Too Big for Certain Classes?
 

I was just wondering if anybody else had put off trying a new exercise class/ piece of equipment because they felt they were too big?

I have been really trying to be outgoing in the gym and try a lot of classes. I have been the largest girl in all of the classes I have taken thus far but I make it all the way through them. I have even started to really enjoy step.

My problem is that I want to try Zumba and I want to start running. I just worry that I will either look incredibly silly or hurt my self trying.

I am especially worried about the running. Has anybody started running at 250 lbs+ ?:?:

i can't atest to running at that weight but i can say this.. who cares what others think?? you are there to get in shape for YOU!! don't feel like your too big to do anything, just do it and enjoy it!

I start running at about 220, but that's just me. Do whatever the **** you want, girl! And zumba.....YES! You will love it. I do it!

Running at 250 is completely doable. I highly recommend having good shoes, a really supportive bra, and don't run on the sidewalk.

Couchto5k is a really good beginning running program. If you can't do the 60 seconds at start, start with 30 seconds then move up to 60. I am at 250 and I'm starting couchto5k again. I had a baby two months ago but before I got pregnant I had worked myself up to 5k. A low 5k, but I was running.

I havent taken Zumba at a gym. The DVD was difficult for me. Not because of size but just general lack of coordination. I'm going to keep trying though. It looks like it would be really fun.

I'm usually one of the largest women in the class, if not THE largest.

I don't care. I can't care.... not caring about myself is kind of how I got to be overweight. I have to put myself first and for me, going to classes is what guarantees that I have a good workout.

I'm terrible about motivating myself to do exercise on my own.

I didn't go to a class until I had lost a lot. I start a Body Vive class that was low impact at 230. I started to Spin at 220. I still can't run. At about 200 I tried to run and the shin splints were too bad. I will try again at about 180. I felt the shin splints could be weight related. I did Body Combat at 200 and really liked it.

Alot of women like Zumba.

I know I can't jump too much as I am 38K and my boobs hurt too much to do boobs hurt too much. For cardio I spin, elliptical and treadmill mostly.

Years ago, when I weighed 350, I did step classes. I've done lots of classes at over 300 lbs. I say go for it.

I have. Several of my co-workers go to a Zumba class after work and they love it. I tried it with them and I was the biggest person there. Maybe no one else noticed, but I did and right or wrong I was embrassed. It was intense, but a lot of fun. I would probably try it again if I had some one besides my "perfect" co-workers to go with.

I am doing the C25K at home on my treadmill. I am really slow and still working on week 1, but I'm trying. When I'm on my treadmill, I picture myself fit and at a 5K race with one of those little number stickers on my tummy and the only thing big about me is my smile.:cloud9:

I went to Spin @ 200. I started running about 185. Stretch very well and take it slowly. Don't over do it. That is never a good idea. Also, I found it really helpful to find all sorts of ways to get more activity in. If I got to carpool 20 minutes early, I would park and go for a walk. I would park far from stores--hardly novel I know. I would even do old school exercises during commercial breaks during shows I was watching. All these things really add up too. Also, I have gotten on bounce houses with my kids at birthday parties.

Thank you for all of your responses! You guys are great!

I think I am going to suck it up and go try a Zumba class tomorrow morning. They are usually so filled that I couldn't stand out that much. At least that's what I am telling myself.

As far as the running, I think may try to lose a little more before trying.

The last Zumba class I went to probably had 5 or 6 women 200+ pounds. One of them had been doing it a while and she was the one the instructor asked to come to the class to illustrate how low we were supposed to be going in the dips.

Let's just say that girl could get down :carrot: lol

Also the co-lead in the class had lost a couple of hundred pounds while attending the class. She had even had a full body lift done.

It will probably depend on the makeup of the class, but in the class I went to, the heavier girls knew what they were doing and the 'Barbie' doll girls were obviously the newbies. lol

I have never sweated so much in an exercise class before . . . I really am looking forward to going back.

200lb+ Runners
 

The Couch to 2K site Cool Running, has a message string for beginners called 200lb +. You really should come over and read it. I just posted for the first time yesterday. I weigh 210. There are people there who weigh, or did when they started, 300. It has men and women, some who've been running a long time and are now doing multiple marathons, and beginners like me.

It is an amazing place. Reading the back posts really gives me hope. :)

(I hope this isn't considered recruiting for another site. Not my intention. But if you read those people's stories you will be encouraged.)

I do not think you are too big for certain classes. I understand how you feel, though, because I feel I like I am too heavy for some workouts still. I am going to my first exercise class today! I have never been to one. I hope it is not too hard, it says all fitness levels are welcome.

I hope you get the courage to do any classes you might enjoy. :)

I'm like you in the fact that I don't want to be the only "big girl" there, but as others would say (and I do agree) WHO CARES!!! Know one can make you feel better except you!! Just Do It!! The more you procrastinate, the more it won't get done ... I know.

I'm finally coming out of the shadows and going for it at school. They have a free gym for me to use and exercise classes that I could have been taking advantage of for years ... but now, my last 5 months there I've decided to make a change and go for it!

So yeah, you might be the biggest one there, but just think. In the future, if another big girl shows up, you can go over and be her friend!! ;)

Have fun!!

Oh yeah, and C25K is AWESOME!! I've never liked running, but I love how I feel when I step off that treadmill after completing another day!! Matter of fact, I'm going to try W2D1 today!!

Although I don't do classes, I started the Zumba DVD's when I was 300 pounds. The advantage I had was having taken tap, jazz, and modern dancing classes from elementary school through college, so the rhythm and moves weren't too much of a problem (except the hips, that was pretty new to me). I did feel like I was going to die of a stroke, though! Now, at over 250, I rock the Zumba DVD's and can do all the moves no problem.

I also have been running (although not fast and not far) for the last 30 pounds at least. I now am running for 5 minutes and walking for 2 in intervals to try to build my time up. So yes, it can be done!

I started running before at just under 200, and let me say this: starting running involves a lot of walking if you're not already in pretty good shape. In fact, most beginning running programs suggest that you start with at least 2 weeks worth of fast-paced walking, before you even get in to the actually interval stuff.

In other words, if running eventually is a goal, and I think it's a great one, then I say hit the treadmill now and focus on walking. It'll really help prepare you for when you do want to run.

One of the things I loved so much about beginning to run was that every week I could do something I couldn't do before. Even if I couldn't see the progress right away, I could feel it. It was way more motivating to me than taking classes at the gym. But then again, I have terrible coordination, and so I was (like a lot of you guys) always afraid of messing up. With learning to run I was never worried about that.

Oh, and I made myself some sweet music playlists and only allowed my self to listen to those playlists while I was running- I gave myself a non-food treat!

You can do it! Zumba is so much fun....you won't regret trying that out!

I started running at my heaviest weight: 269. I went to a proper store and got fitted for good running shoes. I started slowly by modifying the Couch 2 5K program to have shorter running intervals and longer walking and worked up to starting the proper program.

You can do whatever you want to try! Just listen to your body and don't push yourself to the point of breaking. Good luck!

I am 275 but when i started my gym i was 293. I started off having the same fear but i sucked it up and tried the classes anyways. I was SOOOO afraid to take zumba because i was the largest person in there and i thought i wouldnt be able to make it through. I made it through that class and ALL the zumba classes since then. I thought people would make fun of me but they didnt. In fact whenever I dont make it to a class they get really concerned lol.

Now in the beginning i tried a step class and i could only make it through the first 10 minutes. I thought i was gonna die and looked stupid. Just the other day i tried again and i made it! I was so happy to see the improvement.

I want to start running but i feel the same as you lol

The Zumba classes I go to have many shapes and sizes ..... I was worried about my size and co-ordination ..... after 2 minutes I forgot about my self-consciousness and was too busy with the moves to even think about comparing myself to others ....

I find it a lot of fun .... hope you enjoy it ....

With running .... I would just try it and see .... I personally want to lose a little more before I start up again as I don't want to have injuries .....

I agree with you. Who cares what other people think? Don't let other people stop you from having fun and getting in shape. There's just no point in letting other people hold you back.

I love Zumba! It is so much fun! We have all shape and sizes in my classes that I go to. Our instructor lost 100+ lbs when she started doing it. Other girls that have heart rate monitors are telling us we burn anywhere from 600-1000 calories per class. It depends a lot on how active you are. Our instructor does 3 classes a week and walks 15 miles a day (she is a mailperson), so she usually burns 400-600 per class. I love how much fun I have when I am doing it. You don't pay attention to anyone else because you are too busy trying to keep up and do the moves.

I will join the crowd that is recommending Zumba. It's so much fun! If you can do step classes you can do Zumba. I hate step - especially the advanced class because I simply don't have the coordination but for some odd reason I can do Zumba.
Don't be discouraged if it initially seems that you will never learn the steps. That's what I thought, too. We have ladies of all sizes in our Zumba class, and everybody seems to be enjoying herself, regardless if we murder the steps or not.

I have a girlfriend from college who got her degree is physical ed, she's 5'7 and weighs like 120 or something. Always physically fit, great muscle tone and very into her health. Even now, in our 40th year (/shudder) - and after having 3 kids, she looks amazing...better than I looked at 17.

SHE used to be self-conscious in exercise classes because she didn't want to "look stupid" doing the exercises.

Moral of the story: No one is paying attention to you. :-) They are there for themselves and are more worried about how they look than how you look.

I used to LOVE step classes and there were always people who had no clue what the heck they were doing, I never one time thought anything of it other than "Heck yea! They are trying!"

I was actually thinking about this during my Zumba class today....I was the biggest girl there. Then I looked around some more and realized I was also in the top 25% as far as doing the moves right and getting the most out of the workout. I find it kind of fun to show off that i am pretty in shape for someone who is obese (plus I can shake my butt like no one's business :P )

I do understand what you mean, though. I would love to try a Pilates class sometime, but I feel like most of the ladies in there have AMAZING bodies and I would feel awkward. I will get over this eventually. I'm thinking once I get down to 220lbs I will give it a shot. But yeah, that's the only one that freaks me out, the rest of them just seem like a lot of fun and like you can learn a lot. It's like having a personal trainer without paying for it. Plus, group classes are amazing because of the peer pressure to keep going. :)

I am overwhelmed by all of your great responses! I still haven't given Zumba a go but my plan is to go to the Friday night class.

I bought the C25K app but I haven't tried it out yet. I may give it a whirl tomorrow if I can dig my way out of all this ice! Brrrr!

I went to Zumba last night. I wasn't the heaviest person there... one COULD argue that I was the largest... just due to my height (I was a head above most people in the class)... but I wasn't the heaviest... And everyone was sweating, groaning, and having fun. :p

Just start it... have fun!

i was running at 300, not really long distances just a couple miles...i do body combat now at 351 and i am the biggest person there and i do feel a little self conscious but i just try and ignore it and half way into the class i'm so tired and trying to keep my focus, what other people are thinking is the last thing on my mind lol